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Langley resident José Figueroa gets his permanent resident card

Man who fought deportation says it means 'I cannot get kicked out of the country'
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Jose Figueroa posted an image of his permanent resident card after he received it Friday.

When José Figueroa received his permanent resident card on Friday, the Langley resident posted a scan of the card online with the ID numbers obscured.

"After more than 19 years of residing in Canada, finally a Permanent Resident Card has been issued," Figueroa wrote.

"To obtain this document meant so many sacrifices by the members of our family. It is time to start to rebuild our lives and to recover what we can recover from all of those years."

He thanked the supporters who backed him during his lengthy lengthy fight against an order deporting him to his native El Salvador because of his involvement with a political movement that opposed a violent dictatorship.

Figueroa sought sanctuary in a Langley church to avoid removal, staying there more than two years until the new Liberal government lifted the deportation order late last year.

"This is a step," Figueroa told the Times.

"I cannot be kicked out of the country, that's for sure."

The fight to become a Canadian citizen is continuing, he said.



Dan Ferguson

About the Author: Dan Ferguson

Best recognized for my resemblance to St. Nick, I’m the guy you’ll often see out at community events and happenings around town.
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